Detroit, May 26, 2025 — Prema Racing has issued a statement following the severe penalties levied against the team and its driver Callum Ilott after a post-race inspection at the Detroit Grand Prix revealed a technical infraction. Ilott, who originally finished 12th, has been demoted to 33rd place. In addition, the team was fined $100,000, and the team manager has been suspended for the remainder of the Detroit race weekend.
Prema Racing statement on Callum Ilott penalty (moved from 12th to 33rd, $100K fine to team and team manager suspended for Detroit) for left front wing endplate not meeting minimum height: pic.twitter.com/4j36TBC6t4
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 26, 2025
The penalties stem from the discovery that the left front wing endplate on Ilott’s car did not meet the minimum height requirements mandated by the technical regulations. Series officials deemed the violation a serious breach of the rulebook, one that could potentially confer a performance advantage — whether intentional or not.
In a statement released Monday morning, Prema Racing acknowledged the decision but expressed disappointment over the severity of the sanctions:
“We respect the series’ commitment to enforcing technical regulations and maintaining a level playing field. However, we are disappointed with the extent of the penalties applied to what we believe was an unintentional and marginal non-compliance. We are currently reviewing the circumstances that led to this discrepancy and will work closely with the series to ensure it does not happen again. We remain committed to upholding the integrity and professionalism that Prema Racing stands for.”
Callum Ilott, a former Formula 2 runner-up and a rising talent in IndyCar, had been showing strong pace throughout the weekend before the setback. The 12th-place finish would have marked a solid points result for the British driver, who has been steadily building momentum with the team this season.
The loss of points could have significant implications for both Ilott’s individual standings and Prema Racing’s position in the team championship. While the infringement does not suggest deliberate wrongdoing, the rules around aerodynamic components are among the most scrutinized in the series, given their impact on car performance and safety.
IndyCar officials clarified that the penalty was consistent with prior precedents for similar technical violations and underscored that all teams are held to the same standards regardless of intent or outcome.
Prema Racing has not yet indicated whether it will appeal the decision.
The incident adds a layer of complexity to what was already a challenging Detroit weekend for the team, now set to move forward without its team manager on the ground. The remaining crew will be tasked with regrouping and refocusing as they prepare for the upcoming rounds on the calendar.
As the championship battle heats up, all eyes will be on how Prema Racing and Callum Ilott respond — on and off the track.
